Michael Weschler

Whitewashed european style chairs - dresser - statue - pillow

Pom Pom has a tendency to elicit breathy sighs from its customers. Glinting crystals dance from chandeliers, whitewashed European furnishings mingle with gentle hues of blues and golds, and, always, there's the evocative scent of the shop's signature gardenia candles. "At a glance, the look is Swedish," says owner Hilde Leiaghat. "But the pale palette means everything here goes with something you have at home."Lighten up When furnishing your own home, start with cream or white slipcovers. Instantly, you'll have a big, muted backdrop. Add floral bolsters, a bowl filled with seashells, or an ornate mirror, and off you go. Before long, you'll be an expert at it.

"I've always been drawn to the worn appearance of antiques," reflects Cheryl Grubb, owner of Patina Antiques, a charming shop where everything honors the passage of time. "To me, bits of rust on garden sculpture are very beautiful. And old doors or fireplace mantels, even if the paint is chipped, look wonderful leaning up against a wall." The shop features aged pieces in shades of cream, white, and gray. Says Cheryl, "I call my look 'dressy European country.'"

Airy and sophisticated, this boutique in the Outremont area of Montreal was born of owner Rollande Vachon's desire to inspire. "I wanted customers to leave with more than a beautiful table or rug. I wanted them to leave with ideas." The shop is separated into "rooms," each one devoted to dining, bath, bedroom, or kitchen needs. "I am a big proponent of using white and light colors to emphasize darker objects," says Rollande. "It works magic."